Door or window screen



Jan. 25,1927.

J. R. BREWER DOOR 0R WINDOW SCREEN Filed Jan. 1925 INVENTOR. 5 2? we?" a ATT NEY Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED DOOR i 01?. W INDOW" SCREEN.

Application filed January 19,1925. --Seria1--No. 3,471.

Tl hisinvention relates to door or window screens, and -the .present invention constitutes an improvement upon the type of screen structure disclosedin my prior application filed August 18,1924, Serial No. 732,862, wherein a sectional screen is provided having-an insect trapor cage arranged between aprimaryanda linal out- -let,-adapted to preventreturn to a building of insects whichhave-found their way into "the trap through the primary outlet, said trap also serving to -preve11t access to the building ofany insects which maybe blown inwardly through the final outlet or find their way thereinto.

One object of the present invention is to provide 'awconstruction whereby the essential-features of a screen of this type-maybe embodiedthrough adjustable features in a screen designed to fit any size of window or door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of exit bracket fixture for the =above-described purpose A-still further object ofthe invention is to provide novelmeans'for supporting the trap portion-of the screen and securing the same at its lateraledges to the sides of'the window or door frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novelmeans for staying or supporting the free edgeof that portion of the screen forming the trap and constituting one of thewalls of the primary outlet, and for also staying and reinforcing one of the body sections of the screen therefrom.

A still further objectofthe invention is to generally simplify and improve the features of construction of window or door screens of the stated type.

The invention consists of the 'featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the --accompanying drawing, in which Figure 5 is a detail section on the line 5 -5 ofF-igure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the exit bracket fixture.

H Figure 7 perspective view of one of the side brackets.

Figure 8 is aperspectiveview of one of the supporters ;and' spacers.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 1 designates the frame of a door or window screen, which may be of rectangular, oblong rectangular or other suitable for-n1. Secured to this frame 1 by molding strips 1, and covering the space or opening bounded thereby, is a body of screen material comprising upper and lower screen sections or. panels 2 and 3. These screen sections or panels 2 and 3 are secured at their relatively outer and side edges by'the molding strips 1 to the frame 1 and are secured at their relatively inner or adjacent edges by means of clamping strips or moldings l and 'bolts or likefastenings 5 tothe spaced upper and lower-body plates 6 and 7 of the sections 8 and 9 of an exit bracket fixture,

whereby such edges of the screen sections or :panels are supported andheld spaced to provide afinal exit slot or opening 10 for the insects, the specific construction of which exit bracket fixture will behereina fter more fully described.

Aportion 1'1 of'one of the screen panels, as the panel 2is continued or extended from its :point of attachment to the exit bracket fixture inwardly and downwardly anddis- ,posed inloopedform to provide'a cage or trap 12 located on the inner side of the main screen and between the main screen and the loopedp'ortion 11. The side-edges or this looped portion 11 are arranged ad- =jacent to the sides of the frame 1 and rest upon and are secured by bolts or other suit able fastenings 13'to the body portions of longitudinally bowed or curved side brackets 14. These brackets 14 are arranged to bear against the sides of the frame 1 and are provided at their upper and lower ends with apertured ears or lugs 15 and 16'respectively, the former extendingbetweenthe molding strips 4 and upper body plates of the exitbr-acket fixture and engaged by the associated bolts 5, while the latter bear against the sides of the window of 'the screen frame and are secured thereto by suitable fastenings 17.

As a result of the structure described, it will be seen that the bracket members 14 are fastened at their lower ends directly to the window frame and at their upper ends to the upper screen section 2 and the plates 6 of the exit bracket fixture, which plates may be secured at their ends to the sides of the window frame, whereby all the parts mentioned are mutually connected and braced to secure a substantial structure. At their lower ends the brackets 14.- are provided with upturned arms 18 lying parallel with the body portions thereof and between the same and the screen panel 3 and to which the free edge of the trap forming screen portion 11 is secured at intervals by belts or other suitable fastenings 19. The arms 18 and the screen extremity held thereby are disposed in spaced relation to the screen panel 3 to provide an intervening transverse primary insect outlet 13 which communicates with the trap or cage 12 below the final outlet 10.

Experience has shown that flies and similar insects within a room endeavor to escape when the room is darkened and fly toward the nearest light outlet, and that such insects when lighting upon a vertical surface generally crawl upward toward a source of light rather than downward. The present construction takes advantage of such in clination of the insects. In the event of the flies or other insects being accidentally admitted into a room or building and flying toward the screened door or window when the room is darkened, such insects will sooner or later alight upon the screen panel 3 and crawl upward in an attempt to find an outlet at the point where light enters the room. In so doing the insects will pass upward through the primary slot or opening 20 into the cage 12 and thence through the final outlet 10 to the exterior of the building. If such insects entering the cage 12 should fail to find their way immediately to the final outlet 10 they will, through their aptitude to climb upwardly, remain in the cage until they finally issue through the outlet 10, thus preventing their re-entrance into the room. On the other hand, any insects which may alight upon the exterior of the screen and be accidentally blown or find their way through the outlet 10 into the cage 12, will be prevented by such cage from entering the room and will finally pass out through the opening 10 through which they entered, the described construction of the cage thus giving double protection to the occupants of the house.

In practice the screen member 2 may be relatively short, or of less length than the screen member 3, so that the outlets 10 and 20 will be disposed at a comparatively high point on the screen frame, but if desired the number of sections of the screen and cages and of outlets employed may be increased to any extent desired according to the length or depth of the window frame, a single cage and set of outlets being, however, ordinarily sufiicient. The construction described may be used with equal advantage and facility in connection with both doors and window frames.

In order to properly support the free edge of the screen portion 11 between the bracket members 14, to hold the screen panel 25 from inward deflection and to maintain the width of the opening 20, any desired number of supporting and spacing members or brackets 21 may be employed between the respective side brackets in connection with a central spacing and connecting bolt 22 connecting the aforesaid screen portions together at approximately a point between the sides of the window or door frame. Each of such members 21 is made of a strip of spring metal and comprises a body portion arranged to bear against the outer surface of the upturned lower extremity of the screen portion 11 and provided at its upper end with a downturned hook or clip 23 to engage over the edge of said upturned extremity of the screen portion 11, whereby such brackets are fitted in position for use. The brackets 21 are also provided with arms 24 extending on a curved line upwardly and rearwardly from their lower ends and arranged to bear against the screen panel 3, whereby the screen element-s between which said brackets are disposed are supported and sustained and held spaced by spring pressure, giving a desired rigidity to the elements of the screen structure and maintaining the width of the primary outlet 20.

The exit bracket fixture referred to is provided to permit of the support of the relatively inner ends of the screen panels and the formation of the final outlet 10 in window or door screens of different widths, the bracket fixture being made adjustable for this purpose, it being obvious that the screen structure of any length may be made without the necessity of provision of adjustment for this or any of the other features of the device. As described, the bracket fixture is composed of two sections 8 and 9. which are slidably connected to permit of the contraction or extension of the bracket to suit any desired width of screen, the section 9 being provided with tongues 25 bent over upon the section 8 to hold the parts slidably connected, and said sections being provided in their body plates with openings designed to register for the passage of the bolts 5 and for interconnecting bolts or other fastenings 26, if desired. The body plates 6 and 7 of the respective bracket sections are provided with outwardly extending flanges 27, the flanges of each section being connected by vertical webs 28, and the flanges 27 of the section 9 slidably engage the flanges 27 of the section 8, the spaces between the plates 6 and 7 and the flanges 27 providing a final outlet having unobstructed passages for the free outlet of the flies or other insects which may find their way into the trap chamber 12. The construction of this bracket fixture not only adapts a sectional screen of any desired width to be made, but also provides a structure which will enable a screen of any desired width to be firmly and substantially supported upon the screen frame.

It will, of couse, be understood that by the use of the terms screen frame I mean either a frame independent of the door or window frame, in the event that such is used. or the door or window frame itself,- in the event that the screen material is attached directly thereto.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a window screen, a pair of outer screen sections arranged in vertical alinement, a bracket fixture uniting the adjacent edges of said sections and holding them spaced apart to provide a final outlet. side bracket members adapted to be secured to the sides of the window frame and secured at their upper ends to the bracket fixture and extending downwardly in rear of the lower front screen section, a rear screen sect-ion secured at its side edges to the side brackets and at its upper edge to the upper front screen section and bracket fixture, the said side brackets and rear screen section having their lower extremities extending upwardly between the body of the rear screen section and the lower front. screen section and forming a trap and a primary outlet, and spaci ng members supported by said upwardly extending portions of the side brackets and rear screen member and spacing the said upwardly extending portion of the latter from the lower front screen section.

2. In a window screen, upper and lower front screen sections arranged in vertical alinement, a bracket fixture connecting the proximate ends of said front screen sections, said bracket fixture forming therewith a final exit opening and comprising sections adj ustable to vary the length of said bracket sec tion, side bracket members adapted to be secured to the sides of the window frame and comprising body portions arranged in rear of the front screen section and bracket fixture and having upper end portions bearing against the lower edge of the upper front screen section, a rear screen sect-ion secured at its side edges to the side bracket members and secured with the upper end portions of the side bracket members to the bracket fixture and upper front screen section, said side bracket members and rear screen section having lower end portions extending upwardly between the body portions of said side bracket members and rear screen sections and the lower front screen section and forming a trap and a primary outlet, and spacing members supported upon said upwardly extending portions of the side bracket members and rear screen section and engaging the lower front screen section and spacing the same apart.

3. In a window screen, upper and lower front screen sections arranged in vertical alinement, a bracket fixture connecting the proximate ends of said front s reen sections, said bracket fixture forming therewith a final exit opening and comprising sections adjustable to vary the length of said bracket section, side bracket members adapted to be secured to the sides of the window frame and comprising body portions arranged in rear of the front screen section and bracket fixture and having upper end portions bearing against the lower edge of the upper'front screen section, a rear screen section secured at its side edges to the side bracket members and secured with the upper end portions of the de bracket members to the bracket fixture and upper front screen section, said side bracket members and rear screen section having lower end portions extending upwardly between the body portions of said side bracket members and rear screen section and the lower front screen section and forming a tap and a primarv outlet, and spacing members each comprising a resilient metallic strip having a body portion, a 'downturned hook at the upper end of said body portion and an upturned spring arm projecting from the lower end of the body portion and in advance thereof, the hooked ends of the spaced members being engaged with the edge of the upturned portion of the rear screen member and the spring arms thereof lying in contact with the lower front screen section, and holding the same spaced with relation to the upturned portions of the side bracket members and rear screen section.

In testimony whereof I aiilx my signature.

JOHN ROBERT BREWER. 

